Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

          CONCORD, N.H. – Arthur Voutselas, 27, previously of Nashua, pleaded guilty in federal court to a fentanyl trafficking charge, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.  

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on two separate occasions in January 2018, Voutselas sold small quantities of cocaine to a cooperating individual working with law enforcement.  In February 2018, a state court judge granted a search warrant for Voutselas’ Nashua residence, and the subsequent search yielded approximately 76 grams of fentanyl, over $10,000 in U.S. currency, and other indicia of narcotics trafficking, including a scale, ledgers and bagging materials.  Voutselas was arrested by state authorities and has been in custody since February 21, 2018.

          Voutselas, who pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, will be sentenced on October 26, 2018.  He also will forfeit $12,955 to the United States. 

         “The deadly impact of fentanyl trafficking is being felt each day throughout the Granite State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with all of our law enforcement partners to protect lives and promote public safety. We will concentrate our efforts on identifying and prosecuting those who are selling this dangerous substance.”           

          “Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy lives,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

          This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nashua Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L Rombeau.

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